Defendants Convicted for Liquor Store Robberies, Shooting

Demetrius Johnson and David Bell were convicted by a jury of three counts of robbery. The jury also found true allegations that both defendants personally used a firearm and that Johnson discharged a firearm causing great bodily injury.

On May 22, 2015, Demetrius Johnson and David Bell went to a liquor store on Franklin Blvd. When Johnson and Bell tried to leave the store without paying for their items, the clerks tried to stop them. Bell then lifted up his shirt and threatened the clerks with a revolver. Ten minutes later, Johnson and Bell entered a mini mart two blocks away from the liquor store. Bell attempted to go behind the counter to take bottles of alcohol. When the clerk confronted Bell, Johnson pointed the revolver at the clerk and fired two shots as the defendants left the store with the bottles. The clerk was struck in the arm, causing a fractured bone and tissue damage. The defendants were later apprehended with the revolver and property from both robberies in their possession.

Johnson has multiple prior strike convictions for robbery, carjacking, and criminal threats as well as prior convictions for elder abuse and assault with a deadly weapon.

Johnson faces a maximum sentence of 40 years and 8 months to life in prison. Bell faces a maximum sentence of 20 years and 4 months in prison. Sentencing is set for January 20, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. in Department 10 before the Honorable Eugene Balonon.